Background / Principles

Background

On March 16, 2020, King’s University College became a largely virtual campus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since that time, the King’s community has collaborated to produce a return to campus framework based on information from the government, public health and best practices.

The purpose of this framework is to provide students, staff and faculty with a general phased-in guide for our return to campus understanding that we may need to pivot as the pandemic is ongoing. There will be other sub-plans developed by each unit on campus that will be separate yet consistent with this document. As the municipal and provincial landscape is constantly changing in reaction to the Covid-19 situation, this framework will also be subject to change. Updates will be done via this website.

Each phase of the return to campus framework is informed by the guidelines of the Middlesex London Health Unit (MLHU). Regular meetings with the MLHU will take place prior to proceeding to one of the phases outlined below.

• The health and safety of students, faculty, and staff is paramount.
• Decisions are made while considering the following four principles:

Principle 1 – King’s Mission

King’s must be mission-driven and seek to continue its work as an academic and Catholic community that is “engaged in the open pursuit of truth and the discovery and sharing of knowledge in service to humanity. By integrating academic programs rooted in the liberal arts with comprehensive student support, King’s creates an inclusive and empowering space for students by nourishing their capacity for critical thought, articulate expression, creativity, and ethical action.”

Principle 2 – Respect and Dignity of the Person

Each person at King’s will be respected according to their dignity as a person and as a member of our community.                

Principle 3 – Financial Sustainability      

The financial stability of King’s is critical to ensuring that we can continue to operate and respond to the variety of external variables currently present in the environment. Examples of these variables include market fluctuations, student enrolment, and government funding. King’s must put itself in a position to be able to respond to these pressures in a way that can provide for long-term financial stability.         

Principle 4 – Necessity of Critical Services

Certain services are critical to maintain King’s functioning as a higher education institution, including teaching, research, and student support. These services will remain a priority in order to ensure the health and sustainability of the institution. These services include the delivery of the core functions of each particular unit of the university. Each unit should have a clear statement on the basic, core functions of its work.